BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Friends
Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Author
  5. 31
  6. 14
  7. 31
  8. 14
  9. 31
  10. 14
  11. 31
  12. 14
  13. 31
  14. 15
  15. 31
  16. 16
  17. 32
  18. 16
  19. 32
  20. 17
  21. 32
  22. 17
  23. 32
  24. 17
  25. 32
  26. 17
  27. 32
  28. 18
  29. 32
  30. 18
  31. 32
  32. 18
  33. 32
  34. 18
  35. 32
  36. 18
  37. 32
  38. 18
  39. 32
  40. 18
  41. 32
  42. 18
  43. 32
  44. 18
  45. 32
  46. 32
  47. 33
  48. 33
  49. 33
  50. Acknowledgments
  51. Discussion Questions
  52. Booklist

He stirred and frowned himself awake. When he looked over, his face was different. Blocked somehow. My stomach sensed it straightaway. “Y’all right?” he asked.

“Yeah, sorry. It’s just, you know? A bit weird, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged sleepily. “It doesn’t have to be weird though, does it?”

No point there really being a question mark there, when it was such a clear instruction.

“I mean, I guess not.” My eyes fell to the sheet, my heart going like a jet engine about to take off.

“Are you OK? You’re not upset or anything are you?”

“Why would I be upset?”

His voice had an edge of irritation that he was trying to hide. He reached out and pushed my chin up, forcing me to look at him. His face was smiling and kind as he delivered all the next blows. “I really hope last night doesn’t make things weird between us,” he said. “I really value our friendship.”

It was going so wrong. I’d read it so wrong. My heart was screaming, but I smiled. “Oh yeah, me too.”

“I mean, Fern, I really like you. We obviously really click and stuff... But, well, I’m sure you can tell that I’m not in a ‘relationship place’ right now, you know? We’re freshers. We’re never going to have this opportunity again, are we? To be this free? Have this much fun? I know if I got into a relationship with anyone right now I’d regret it. Resent them. You would too.”

Breathing was so very difficult. Tears so very hard to contain. I managed a nod.

“...I mean, if I was looking for something like that, you are exactly the sort of girl I would choose.”

Even though he was being a total dick, the fact he’d said that still meant so much. I looked up at him, blinking. “Really?”

“Of course. You’re smart and funny and pretty and caring. Like, of course I have feelings for you...”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve loved getting to know you this term, but it’s always felt a bit...intense between us, hasn’t it? Like it could be a big deal? I sensed you were the kind of girl who would only want something serious, and so I held off, as I’m just not in that place at all right now. But then, last night, hearing you play Never Ever Have I, I realized I’d got you wrong.”

He hadn’t got me wrong. I’d got me wrong. Oh God, what had I done? I focused on breathing without choking.

“...it’s great we’ve been able to...you know...and it not mess up our friendship. I mean, we’re still mates, right?”

“Yes.”